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Why are greenstick fractures more common in children?
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bone
A long bone of the human body, showing a magnified cross section of the interior.
A greenstick fracture is a type of injury occurring in young individuals where a bone is only partially broken and bent rather than snapped completely.1
These fractures are more common in children because their bones are still undergoing the process of bone mineralization. During childhood and adolescence, the skeleton is maturing as minerals—primarily calcium and phosphate—are deposited into the collagen matrix to provide strength and rigidity. Because this process is ongoing, children's bones have not yet reached the full density and mechanical strength found in adults, making them more pliable and susceptible to bending or incomplete fracturing under stress.2